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| Two Skiers Killed and Five Rescued After Avalanche in Idaho | Two Skiers Killed and Five Rescued After Avalanche in Idaho |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two skiers were killed and five were rescued on Tuesday after an avalanche at a ski resort in northern Idaho trapped several people on a mountain slope, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office said. | Two skiers were killed and five were rescued on Tuesday after an avalanche at a ski resort in northern Idaho trapped several people on a mountain slope, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office said. |
| “The sheriff’s office can confirm that five individuals were rescued and two were recovered from an avalanche on Silver Mountain today,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement early Wednesday. “Our deepest condolences go out to all the family and friends affected by this tragic event.” | “The sheriff’s office can confirm that five individuals were rescued and two were recovered from an avalanche on Silver Mountain today,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement early Wednesday. “Our deepest condolences go out to all the family and friends affected by this tragic event.” |
| All the skiers have been accounted for, Silver Mountain Resort said, and later announced that the resort would be closed on Wednesday. “Thank you for your patience and understanding as we process yesterday’s events,” it said. | All the skiers have been accounted for, Silver Mountain Resort said, and later announced that the resort would be closed on Wednesday. “Thank you for your patience and understanding as we process yesterday’s events,” it said. |
| The snow slide happened around 11 a.m. on Tuesday near Wardner Peak, a 6,200-foot mountain that is part of the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho, the ski area said on its Facebook page. | The snow slide happened around 11 a.m. on Tuesday near Wardner Peak, a 6,200-foot mountain that is part of the Silver Mountain Resort in Kellogg, Idaho, the ski area said on its Facebook page. |
| Mac Pooler, the longtime mayor of Kellogg, said snowfall in the area had been below average this winter, but the resort had received 16 to 18 inches of new snow overnight. | Mac Pooler, the longtime mayor of Kellogg, said snowfall in the area had been below average this winter, but the resort had received 16 to 18 inches of new snow overnight. |
| “I’ve never heard of an avalanche up there that actually trapped anybody,” Mr. Pooler said in a phone interview Tuesday. | “I’ve never heard of an avalanche up there that actually trapped anybody,” Mr. Pooler said in a phone interview Tuesday. |
| It was not immediately clear if the skiers were rescued from a patrolled area of the slopes or if they had gone off course, which Mr. Pooler said happened from time to time. | It was not immediately clear if the skiers were rescued from a patrolled area of the slopes or if they had gone off course, which Mr. Pooler said happened from time to time. |
| “You deal with a certain amount of people that signs don’t mean anything to,” he said. | “You deal with a certain amount of people that signs don’t mean anything to,” he said. |
| The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon that four individuals had been “recovered” from the avalanche area and that search efforts were still underway. In an earlier post, it said there had been as many as three separate avalanches at the ski resort. | The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page Tuesday afternoon that four individuals had been “recovered” from the avalanche area and that search efforts were still underway. In an earlier post, it said there had been as many as three separate avalanches at the ski resort. |
| The resort, which Mr. Pooler said was popular with skiers from the Spokane, Wash., area; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Montana; and Canada, declined to answer additional questions, instead referring a reporter to its Facebook page. | The resort, which Mr. Pooler said was popular with skiers from the Spokane, Wash., area; Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Montana; and Canada, declined to answer additional questions, instead referring a reporter to its Facebook page. |
| The authorities did not immediately release the names of the people who died. The United States Forest Service had issued a backcountry avalanche warning earlier Tuesday for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. | The authorities did not immediately release the names of the people who died. The United States Forest Service had issued a backcountry avalanche warning earlier Tuesday for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. |
| There have been 256 avalanche fatalities in the U.S. in the last 10 ski seasons, according to the National Ski Areas Association, a trade organization for ski area owners and operators. | |
| The majority of avalanches occur in the backcountry, which is described as terrain outside of the ski area’s operating boundary, the association said, and noted only seven of those reported avalanche deaths occurred within a ski area’s boundary. | |
| Tuesday’s deaths bring the total of avalanche fatalities in the U.S. to six since the season started last fall, according to data collected by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. Before Tuesday’s avalanche, another avalanche on Jan. 1 caused two deaths. | |
| Derrick Taylor contributed reporting | Derrick Taylor contributed reporting |